Could your unit be a film location?

LE

MilWeb has an article asking for suggestions from units where there are possible suitable film locations:

MilWeb said:

Could the movies come to your unit? The MoD has recently undertaken a proactive campaign to encourage film makers to use its assets as film locations, as part of the Wider Markets initiative.
Minley Manor is a Grade 2 listed country manor house currently used as a Royal Engineer officers mess
What&#8217;s in it for the MoD?

Filming at MOD locations has two advantages. The first is publicity. A new MOD Film Locations website (See IN DEPTH>>>) will enable production companies to find a way into the MoD and allow MoD to get alongside the project and offer direction and assistance, where this is in the MoD&#8217;s interests.

The second is income generation. Filming projects are directed towards those areas of the estate where there is spare capacity. This spare capacity is then let out to filmmakers, generating significant income in the process.

Current Situation
The summer is a quiet time for film location enquiries, with the majority of productions already located. However, the MoD has received over 100 enquiries and generated a considerable income for units and TLBs since the launch.

The next six months promise to be a lively time with a number of major films close to bringing their extensive budgets to the UK - with every possibility that MoD may be able to provide the ideal location.

In the meantime, bread and butter productions continue to choose the MoD over other location owners, due to the accessibility which the new website brings, and to the new internal processes that are being set to enable MoD to respond.

As guardians of around 1% of the UK, the MoD has a huge amount to offer the film world, and the potential to generate a considerable income. Projects are often short-term and so disruption to units can be minimised.

What does this have to do with me?

Any unit with a degree of spare capacity - be that in a hangar, mess, dry dock or barracks - can declare its land and buildings availability on the website, through a simple online form.

Photographs are key &#8211; film being a visual medium, the more the better! The website can be found at www.filmlocations.mod.uk. (See Related www links>>>)
Currently the site has examples of hangars, bunkers, messes and FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Areas) locations to name but a few. Film location managers are often seeking an individual &#8216;look&#8217; within a specific geographical area. Thus a hangar in the South East may not suit a production company in Glasgow or Manchester, and there is ample opportunity for units across the country to benefit.

I can't decide whether to contact them to suggest my Mess as suitable for any film requiring a run-down, badly-maintained building full of period charm (i.e. ancient plumbing and tiny rooms), or to get in touch as Mr Rocco Siffredi, eager to make use of the stables at Hyde Park Barracks....

LE

Old-Salt

I have the misfortune to work with these Defence Estates muppets. A better case for culling civil servants I have yet to see. They are focking hopeless.
Part time wxankers.

I've been to these film meetings. Luvvies come down to Wiltshire to do a deal then get talked at by a bunch of third rate tweed-clad half-wits without a commercial fibre in their bodies. Add a couple of bemused Jack Russels and the scene is complete. The beurocracy is mind numbing.

LE

Have a look at the MOD Film Locations website. I whiled away 15 mins this afternoon spotting the mistakes, including:

'Full Metal Jacket' was apparently directed by a Mr S Cubrick

Each location listed has a list of previous productions filmed there - or not, as they mention FMJ in Bassingbourn's blurb but it isn't on the list. RAF Uxbridge featured extensively in a recent 'Silent Witness', which seems to have escaped MOD Estates attention - and so it goes on.

Swinger

Currently the site has examples of hangars, bunkers, messes and FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Areas) locations to name but a few. Film location managers are often seeking an individual look within a specific geographical area

What about security? Terrorists posing as a film crew? How hard would it be to hire a camera and a few lights and a couple of vans? And you could bring in your guns and bombs as "props" for the film you was making. WHAT F**KING IDIOT IN THE MOD DIDN'T THINK THIS THOUGH, is it going to be like people invading Buckingham Palace or Parliament?

Then theres intelligence, why go to the trouble of using high tech equipment, when you can drive up to a base, pretend your making a film, get out a camrea and film whatever you like, then pop it in the post back to Moscow, Peking or whereever.

Old-Salt

Currently the site has examples of hangars, bunkers, messes and FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Areas) locations to name but a few. Film location managers are often seeking an individual look within a specific geographical area

What about security? Terrorists posing as a film crew? How hard would it be to hire a camera and a few lights and a couple of vans? And you could bring in your guns and bombs as "props" for the film you was making. WHAT F**KING IDIOT IN THE MOD DIDN'T THINK THIS THOUGH, is it going to be like people invading Buckingham Palace or Parliament?

Then theres intelligence, why go to the trouble of using high tech equipment, when you can drive up to a base, pretend your making a film, get out a camrea and film whatever you like, then pop it in the post back to Moscow, Peking or whereever.

Old-Salt

The Royal Naval College in Greenwich (as was) was always being used as a film set - everything from costume dramas, to thrillers: brought out the wives and daughters when Harrison Ford was filming there abot 15 years ago! Also remember Faslane Naval Base being used for one ofthe Roger Moore 007 movies! (At least that bit included the submarines!)